In an attempt to continue the growth in its women's track and field and cross-country programs, Northern Illinois University Intercollegiate Athletics has handed the baton to former United States Olympian Condinitha "Connie" Teaberry.

The 35-year-old Teaberry was named the head coach of both the Huskie women's track and cross-country programs in November of 2004.

"You can't do much better than an Olympian," Northern Illinois Athletic Director Jim Phillips said. "We're extremely pleased to have her join our Huskie team. Connie has some awesome credentials, both as a student-athlete and as a coach. As a six-time All-America selection, she was quite the accomplished young woman at Kansas State University. She has competed at the top level on a national and international basis and coached in the Southeastern Conference, the Pac-10 Conference, and the Mid-American Conference. Such wide-ranging experience should help her take our program to the next level. For our female student-athletes, Connie is a great role model."

Teaberry is looking forward to the challenge.

"What a tremendous opportunity for me," Teaberry said. "I want to thank Jim Phillips and (associate athletics director) Robert Collins for their confidence in my coaching background and faith in me personally. The entire Northern Illinois athletics program has great potential for many reasons---one being the close proximity to Chicago and the number of outstanding student-athletes in the same region. There is no doubt that the Chicago is a great recruiting area. The university has excellent academics, faculty, and staff. There's a lot to sell prospective student-athletes at NIU.

"My hat is off to (former head coach) Shantel Twiggs and the great job she did starting a program from ground zero. That's a very difficult situation. We want to continue that growth, improve, and, eventually, be highly competitive in the Mid-American Conference. All you have to do is see the tremendous job that (head coach) Joe Novak has done here in football."

Teaberry comes to Northern Illinois after a short stint as an assistant women's track coach at Ohio University (2004), Arizona State University (1998-99), the University of Toledo (1995-98), and the University of Kentucky (1992-95). Her specialty is developing jumpers and sprinters. In eight years as an assistant, she has developed eight National Collegiate Athletic Association qualifiers (four apiece indoors and outdoors) and two conference individual champions.

A St. Louis, MO, native, Teaberry began her outstanding athletics career at Lutheran North High School where she won four varsity letters apiece in basketball and track (1984-88). At Kansas State, she developed into a national-caliber high jumper and would then eventually participate in the U.S.A. / Mobil Track and Field Championships (1993-95), two Olympic Trials (1992, 1996), the Olympics (1996), and the World University Games (1993, 1995).

Her ascension in the world high jumping hierarchy began with three (then) Big Eight Conference outdoor titles (1990-92). As a senior, Teaberry was selected the Most Valuable Female Athlete at the Big Eight indoor meet, the Kansas State Woman of the Year Award recipient, and then the National Collegiate Athletic Association Athlete of the Year.

At K-State, she was a six-time All-America pick in the high jump---placing at the NCAA indoors in 1990 and 1992, plus outdoors in 1989-92. Teaberry's 6-foot, 1 1/2-inch performance at the 1992 Big Eight meet remains the third-best outdoor high jump in school history. Ditto for her 6-2 1/4 effort indoors at the 1992 Big Eight championships.

Teaberry finished second in the 1996 Olympic Trials high jump, ranked No. 2 nationally, and qualified for the U. S. Olympic team in Atlanta where she tied for 15th place. At the 1992 Olympic Trials, she placed 10th in the high jump.

She graduated from Kansas State with a bachelor of science degree in life science and pre-nursing and made the Academic Honor Roll in spring, 1992. In addition, Teaberry has worked as a nursing professional and owned an Avis rental car franchise in her hometown. Teaberry is married to DeMarcus Lindsey of Mobile, AL. The couple has two children, sons Kameron, 8; and Kollan, 4.

Northern Illinois resurrected its varsity women's track and field program in 2000-01 after curtailing it following the 1981-82 academic year due to budgetary reasons. Since the mid-1970s, five coaches have served as the Huskies' women's head track coach---Judy Bischoff, Barb Merrill, Diana Richter, Twiggs, and now Teaberry.